Stocking form



April 20, 1937. A. w J ER E 2,077,886

STOCKING FORM Filed April 29, 1935 'JUEF" ens- Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE; 4

Arthur W. Juergens,jMilwaukee, Wis. Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,715

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to hosiery, and more particularly to a novel form "for facilitating the drying of stockings and the stretching of stockings into the desired size and form.

In the usewof silk stockings, many runs :are caused by the breaking of the delicate threads incident :to :the stretching ofthe stocking as the same is placed on the leg of the wearer. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means whereby the stocking can be washed or saturated with water (so that the same will readily stretch without breaking the threads), and thereafter be placed over the improved form, whereby the stocking will take the desired shape and size during the drying thereof, and thereby permit the expeditious placing of the stocking on the leg Without danger of breaking the stocking threads.

Another prime object of my invention is to provide a stocking form constructed from wire, or the like, which will permit the quick drying of the stocking in the correct shape without undue shrinking, and which is provided with novel means for suspending the same from a clothesline, or the like.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a stocking drying and shaping device formed in the outline of the stocking, which is to be dried, having novel clips slidably mounted thereon for holding the top of the stocking leg in proper position, the adjustability of the clips permitting the form to receive stockings of different lengths.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a stocking drying and stretching form constructed from wire, and having hooks formed therein I01 receiving a clothesline, whereby the form can be readily hung up, the form also having novel means for facilitating the handling thereof during the placing of stockings on and off the same.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a stocking drying and stretching form having the upper end thereof provided with an enlarged base to form a foot-rest, whereby the form can be held in an inverted position by the foot of the user during the placing of stockings on and off of the same.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved stocking form of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in :view, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar rangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, :in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy mproved stocking form, showing the means of connecting the same with a clothesline.

Figure 2 is a front edge elevation of my improved form, the clothesline being shown in cross section.

Figure 3 is a detailed horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed side elevation, illustrating one of the adjustable clips for receiving the top of a stocking.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter F generally indicates my improved drying and stretching form for stockings, and the same is preferably, but not necessarily, formed from a single length of wire fashioned into the desired shape and size. As illustrated, the form F includes the foot portion ID, from which extend the spaced wire strands II and I2 to form the leg. The strand II has its upper end bent back upon itself, as at [3, to form a clothesline gripping clip I l. The clip [4 extends at right angles to the leg portion of the form, and the wire is continued upwardly from the clip, as at l5, and then is bent arcuately, as at IS, in substantially a horizontal plane, for a purpose which will be later set forth. It is to be noted, however, that the curved portion l6 extends over toward the wire strand l2.

The wire strand l2 has its upper end bent back upon itself, as at H, to form a clothesline gripping clip I8, and this clip I8 is atright angles to the clip l4, and in the same plane with the leg of the form. The wire, after the forming of the clip I8, is bent upwardly, as at l9, and then is bent arcuately in a horizontal plane, as at 20, toward the strand II. The free end of the arcuate portion 20 is twisted about the strand II, as at 2|, and the free end of the arcuate portion I6 is bent or coiled about the strand l9, as at 22.

The curved portions l6 and 20 form an enlarged base, which constitutes a foot-rest so that the form can be held in an inverted position by the foot of the user. This allows the convenient placing of the stocking on and oil the form.

After the stocking is washed, the form is inverted and held by the foot, and the stocking is then carefully stretched over the form. The top edge of the stocking is held in place by clips 23 and 24 carried respectively by the leg strands II and I2. Each of the clips consists of an open re-' silient collar 25, which is sprung around the wire, and this collar has formed thereon the oppositely extending resilient arms 26 and 21, which frictionally engage the wire. The arm 26 is provided with a handle 28, whereby the clip can be slid longitudinally on the wire to permit adjustment of the clip to the stocking length.

After the stocking is placed on the form, the stocking form is hung on the clothesline L by slipping the clothesline in the hooks l4 and I8. By having the hooks at right angles, the clothesline is effectively gripped so that the form cannot be inadvertently moved or shaken oif of the line.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionally simple stocking form, which will facilitate the drying of the stocking and the stretching thereof to the desired shape and size.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. A form for drying and stretching stockings constructed from a single length of wire, said wire being shaped to define a foot and a leg portion to conform to the configuration of a stocking to be dried, the leg portion including side wire strands, hooks formed in the upper ends of the wire strands at right angles to one another, and oppositely bowed arcuate extensions formed in said wire above the hooks having their terminals coiled about the wires at spaced points.

2. A form for drying and stretching stockings constructed from a single length of wire, said wire being shaped to define a foot and a leg portion to conform to the configuration of a stocking to be dried, the leg portion including side wire strands, suspending hooks formed on the upper ends of the wire strands, and oppositely bowed arcuate extensions formed in said wire having their terminals coiled about the wires at spaced points, said arcuate extensions being disposed in a horizontal plane and at right angles to the wire strands to form an operators foot-rest.

ARTHUR W. JUERGENS. 

